Unfathomable amount of paperwork to back up a solid history
The Appeal
There is very little when buying a top end BMW that would need altering, or at least that’s what you might think until you clap eyes on Alpina’s offering of the 5 series. Adorned with a plethora of tasty little external extras that really set it apart from the crowd and a monstrous V8 power plant that not only has a healthy 375BHP but returns in excess of 30mpg on a run.
This fine example comes with a vast amount of paperwork to support the enormous care and attention that has gone into keeping this Alpina in the best mechanical order possible because as a daily used car this is important to the vendor. Nothing mechanically has been overlooked on this car and will no doubt be a huge peace of mind for the new owner.obObCKgoHEHEcA3s2UtZ7izE1p4tcxyyShPD47EA.jpeg347.91 KB
The History and Paperwork
Enormous history file
Full service book
One previous keeper, the current being for 17 years
Firstly we were presented with the original leather Alpina service folder in good condition with the Alpina colours across the corner and the bold metal badge in the centre. Inside are the full collection of BMW/Alpina booklets all in nice nick and a service book stamped with 11 services. The average mileage under its current ownership is just 6,500 miles per year putting this car at a smidge over 140,000 at the time we saw it.
A plump folder of invoices too numerous to count was next, with every receipt for the car under the vendors ownership taking an absolutely no expense spared approach toward its upkeep including the CD changer being repaired just that same day.
The interior, as you would expect is fully loaded and has Alpina’s flare on it giving an even more premium feel on top of the already superb build quality we all know and love about this era of BMW. The black leather seats are in good shape and are adorned with the Alpina logo and stitching of blue and green, fairly subtle but not easily missed and this theme is carried through to the floor mats and boot mat which are in nice condition also with the rear seats and mats seeing minimal use. The drivers seat as you may expect is the most used and has some wear on the high contact areas, but there are no rips or splits and simply would benefit from some professional treatment and cleaning.
The lower section of the door cards had been dressed with leather trim to match the seats also and the steering wheel too is individually matched to the car, with the Alpina badge in the centre and the Alpina colours at the 6 o’clock position. There is some wear on the wheel and has that shiny used look but it’s all honest wear and the tiptronic function works as it should.
The speedometer and rev counter are nice and clear with a navy background and working perfectly but the LCD display at the bottom has started to suffer some pixel issues and this does present an issue for reading the mileage although for the most part it can be read. All in all the overall condition is excellent given its mileage and certainly does not show any wear beyond what one might expect.
Recently refurbished and painted genuine Alpina wheels
All centre cap keys present
Repainted arches
Certainly a striking car especially to anyone who appreciates how special this car is, with the Alpina specific wheels and front splitter being the biggest giveaway of what this car is all about. The car is very straight looking down the sides with a good shine. All four arches, we were told, have been painted in recent times and these have been done well, with an exceptional colour match though some evidence of the work being done is evident upon closer inspection.
Unfortunately the nearside front arch has some signs of corrosion under the paint still and this may need attention to prevent it progressing.
A little flake of paint is missing off the centre of the rear bumper due to a very recent encounter in a car park (not owners fault), this was very minor but would benefit from a respray to keep the car looking in top form and there are other small blemishes across the car in places but to be fully expected for a 19 year old car.
The stunning Alpina wheels were repainted in 2021 and these are in top order with no marks on the usual areas that we saw and are bright and clean, shod in Michelin Sport 4 Tyres fitted in 2020.
This car really shines in the mechanical aspect with the vendor being extremely thorough and vigilant regards reliability and safety. We were presented with a comprehensive list of work carried out over the last 7 years or so that was significant:
Recent, clean health check
Bosch 5yr battery 2020
Ignition barrel 2020
Steering rack 2020
Gear selector 2019
Power steering pump, idler and belt 2019
Radiator fan 2019
Coolant expansion tank 2018
Brake pads, discs & calliper refurbishment 2016
All engine gaskets 2018
Anti-roll bars front & rear 2018
Complete transmission replacement/torque converter/valve body 2019
All coil packs in the last 3 years
As you can see little has been overlooked and this list is just the more substantial items. The car started and drove perfectly, sounded sublime and went through the gears exactly as it should. Under the bonnet everything was relatively clean and everything in its place with no modifications. EfH7ryGtmAxEodgkZcVuXMYUN6EzhZQfxx3p62Rd.jpeg352.54 KB
Summary
One of the rarest versions of a BMW 5 series available to buy, this car was the last B10 V8S of the 42 models made and really is quite special and will catch the eye of car enthusiasts all over. Not without is blemishes it still looks absolutely superb and mechanically it is sorted. A excellent opportunity to own a cherished car with and a sturdy history and a good investment.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased. A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
